Sonoma County N.O.W.

The Sonoma County Chapter of the National Organization for Women

Newsletters

SOCONOW NEWS

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN

SEPTEMBER--OCTOBER 2012

A COMPILATION OF FEMINIST NEWS

EDITOR: Mary West, PH: 707/545-5036

PROGRAM MEETING; SEPTEMBER 19, 6 PM, Roundtable Pizza. Marlow and Guernevillle Road. WE WILL BE HONORING WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY (August 16, 1920, the day that women finally got the right to vote.) We are very honored to have as our speaker, REBECCA HOLLINGSWORTH, DIRECTOR, YOUTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, for the NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY PROJECT. SHE WILL BE DISCUSSING CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER GETTING OUR VOTE.

PLANNING MEETING: OCTOBER 17

This is also “Love Your Body Day” and October 15 is the 18th anniversary of the “Violence Against Women’s Act”. Same day, same place. Mark your calendar.

REGISTER AND VOTE, REGISTER AMD VOTE

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YOUR VOTE IS EXTREMELYIMPORTANT THIS YEAR!

Since 2011, 41 states have introduced at least 180 voter restriction bills affecting a woman’s right to vote. including 34 with photo identification provisions. It has been estimated that as many as five million voters will lose their right.

Senator John McCain delivered a floor speech in which he insisted that the “War on Women is something imaginary for Democrats to “sputter about.”

The Republican National Committee Chair tried to trivialize the “War on Women” by calling it a “war on caterpillars.” South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on ABC The View claimed “women don’t care about contraception.”

HELP!

Let us send this newsletter to you by computer. We have been sending it to members for more than a year now - dramatically reducing our costs and work. If you want this NOW

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act aka “Obamacare,” as of August 1, 2012, all new health plans must cover eight women’s preventive services, including birth control, without cost sharing. The following services will now be available without co-pays: l) Breast feeding support, supplies, and counseling 2) Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence 3) Screening for gestational diabetes

Additionally, children cannot be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and this will be extended to women in 2014. Children under 26 can now stay on their parents’ insurance. In 2014 women no longer will be charged more because of their gender. The “donut hole” for seniors’ prescriptions will gradually be closed.

AAUW and Health Gov.

A STORM erupted when Todd Aikin, MO, Congressman and Senate candidate infamously asserted that “legitimate rape” victims don’t often get pregnant because the female system has a way of shutting itself down under such circumstances.

Paul Ryan, Republican vice president nominee, co-authored with Aikin legislation seeking to refine rape as “forcible” as a way of limiting public spending on abortion. The bill had 227 Republican cosponsors. Ryan, defending his position that there would be no excuses for abortion, referred to rape as a “method of conception.”

A Missouri high ranking Republican came to Aikins defense, stating her belief that “God is delivering a blessing to women who get pregnant”.

WAR ON WOMEN

In state after state where Republicans control the governor’s mansion and the statehouses, anti-abortion and family planning legislation has been introduced--over 1000 bills in the 2011-2012 state legislative session--the most since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Worse yet, some 162 reactionary, restrictive measures affecting women’s reproductive rights passed in 2011 alone and signed into law n many states, including Alabama, Arizona. Arkansas, Florida, Kansas,

Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Utah and Texas. In just the first six months of 2012 states passed 39 new laws restricting abortion access. Feminist Majority

WOMEN WIN

USA women on the Summer Olympic Team outnumbered men for the first time, 269 to 264. ranging from ages 15 to 54. Women from the

SoCoNOW News March-April, 2012

In honor of Women’s History Month, we will be showing the film “PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL”, the remarkable story of Leymah Gbowee, one of the three women who received the 1911 Nobel Peace Prize.As the official Nobel site stated, the prize was given “for their non-violent struggles for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation.”Ghowee, now executive director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa. led an unstoppable movement of women to force an end to Liberia’s 14 year Civil War. a war noted for its use of child soldiers against the country’s civilian population and the end of the reign oftyrant Charles Taylor.In addition to daily protests she organized a sex strike until the women’s requests were met.

RSVP by March 6th

The County of Sonoma Commission on the Status of Women is holding a “WOMEN HONORING WOMEN” LUNCHEON. honoring longtime volunteers for service to women of Sonoma County.

Our coordinator and newsletter editor, Mary West, is one of three women to be honored at this event.The luncheon will be Sunday, March 11, at Sally Tomatoes Restaurant, 1100 Valley House Drive, Rohnert Park, from 11:30 to 3:00.Tickets are $40, and must be purchased in advance.

As the event is a fund raiser, 100% of the ticket prize is tax deductible.Guest speaker will be Michelle Jolly, Ph.D, Chair of the History Dept. at Sonoma State.Contact numbers for the Commission are: phone: 565-2693, fax: 565-3770, e-mail: [email protected] org.Make checks payable to Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.

PLANNING MEETING: April 19, 6:00-8:00 pm.

Meetings are held the third Wednesday. 6:00--8:00 pm. at Round Table Pizza, Marlow Center, Marlow and Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa.Come at 5:30 for chew and chat..Planning meetings are open to all members.

CENTENNIAL

On March 12, 1912 Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Lowe assembled 18 girls for the first meeting of what became the Girl Scouts.Rather than celebrating this anniversary, an Indiana lawmaker called Girl Scouts a “radicalized organization” that “sexualizes” young girls and promotes homosexuality and “communist role models”.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Did you know it all started in Sonoma County?In 1978 the first “Women’s History Week was held through the efforts of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and since 1981 the month of March has been observed nationally as Woman’s History Month, thanks to the efforts of the National Women’s History Project, headquartered in Santa Rosa.

The theme for the 2012 History Month is “Women’s Education - Women’s Empowerment”.After the American Revolution, girls were given opportunities to get a basic education, based on the concept that educating women meant educating mothers.

Pioneers of secondary education for young women faced arguments from physicians and other “experts” who claimed either that females were incapable ofintellectual development equal to men, or that they would be harmed striving for this development.

While Harvard, the first college in America, was founded in 1636, it was almost two centuries before the founding of the first college to admit women (Oberlin in 1833).Harvard opened its annex (Radcliffe) for women in 1879rather than admit women, and single sex education remained the elite norm in the U.S. until the early 1970s.

Tuesday, March 13, 12:00- 2:00. Doyle Library, Room 4245, “ My So-Called Enemy” Film Presentation.---SixPalestinian and Israeli young women come together in the U.S. for a program called “Building Bridges for Peace”.

Programs are also scheduled for the Petaluma campus.Call 527-4586 for information.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

Good News:The Dept. of Veteran Affairs is easing the requirements for claiming veteran benefits for post-traumatic strength.Bad News: These new rules will not apply to veterans (mostly women) whose post-traumatic stress is a result of having experienced Military Sexual Trauma.

Care

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OR CONTRACEPTION?

When Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held his hearing Feb. 16 on the Obama Administration rule requiring religious institutions to include birth control in their employees’ health coverage, his first panel had five men and no women.As Joel Stein quipped in his column inTime “that panel, however. did finally answer the question of what happens when a bishop, a rabbi, a reverend and two Southern Baptists walk into a crowded congressional committee room: they pissed off a lot of women.”

Committee member Carolyn Maloney said, “Where are the women?” and walked out.Although there were two women on the afternoon’s six member panel they were anti-choice.

Republicans tried to claim it was really about religious freedom and not contraception, Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) took the lead, letting everyone know that ”eradicating access to birth control is not about women, or women’s health, but about religious freedom.”Blunt sponsored a bill in Congress that would extend the “conscientious clause.” but the bill failed in the Senate.

WOMEN FIGHT BACK

Currently women living in seven states must have an ultrasound before having an abortion.However, when Virginia passed a bill requiring a woman receive a trans-vaginal ultrasound before obtaining an abortion, and with one legislator terming abortion as ‘nothing more than a lifestyle convenience issue”and another commenting that “consent was unnecessary since women had already made a decision when they got pregnant” women declared enough. Their attempt to pass an amendment that would require men to have a rectal exam and a cardiac stress test before obtaining a prescription for erectile dysfunction medication failed.

On President’s Day about 1400 people, mostly women, linked arms in a silent human corridor along the Capitol Square Parkway.The Governor, who had said he would sign the measure, reconsidered and the House approved a bill, requiring an external ultrasound fetal imaging and a 24 hour wait before having an abortion.An ultrasound is not medically necessary and the woman has to pay.

Our National president, Terry O’Neill, appeared several times on the Ed Schultz show, presenting the women’s side.

Also, due to the backlash, the pending personhood bill was sent back to committee for a vote after the election.Personhood defines a person as every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof. Besides banning all abortions the bill would probably outlaw birth control, stem cell research and in vitro fertilization.

Women in Virginia have started a women’s political pact.

FLORIDA CLINIC ATTACKED

On January 1st, the American Family Planning Clinic in Pensacola, Florida was firebombed.In February a homeless man admitted to setting the fire, was charged with the crime, and could serve a 20 year prison sentence if convicted.

This clinic is no stranger to violence.In 1984the clinic was bombed on June 25 and destroyed on Christmas Day, and was invadedin 1986.

In 1994 Dr. John Britton and a clinic escort were murdered by Paul Hill.Feminist News

BECOME A MEMBER/RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN (NOW):

NOW is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States.YOU can help make equality a reality for women and girls in the United States and around the world.Membership in Sonoma County NOW automatically enrolls you in California NOW and National NOW.

**********************************************************************************MEETING: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 6-8 PM, ROUND TABLE PIZZA, MARLOW CENTER, MARLOW & GUERNEVILLE ROAD.Come a little early if you want to get something to eat.

HYBRYD MEETING

Since there will be no regular meeting in December this will be part program and part business.At the first of last year, it was decided to concentrate on two issues, while not neglecting the many other issues affecting women.We have completed the Dorothy Fadiman’s trio of films on Women’s Reproductive Rights and are now starting our study of “human trafficking” with the DVD entitled“Black Women and Rape.”

DECEMBER DINNER

With our busy members, we decided on a change of pace this year.So mark your calendar for 5:30, Wednesday, December 7th, at the Villa, 3901Montgomery Drive (on the hill).We will need to make reservations a week ahead (November 30th).COME, JOIN US.MAKE RESERVATIONS BY PHONE to 545-5036 or by E-MAIL to [email protected]There will be no December newsletter to remind you.

TRUTH SQUAD

When members of the anti-abortion group from the Central Valley, Project Truth,set up their gory images of terminated fetuses at the heart of SRJC’scampus, they were countered by about two dozen students protestors carrying signs and chanting.Kat Diaz’ sign read “77% of abortion leaders are men. 100% of them will never get pregnant.Alice Linn and Mary West successfully tabled on the campus to celebrate “Love Your Body Day.”

BEST PLACE TO BE A WOMAN

In a Newsweek survey, reported in the Sept. 26 issue, the United States came in eighth.Leading thelist was Iceland, followed by Sweden (2), Canada (3), Denmark (4), Finland (5), Switzerland (6), and Norway (7).Countries were graded on justice, health, education, economics. and politics.

The worst place to be a woman is Chad, with Afghanistan as second worst.

ON THE CUTTING BLOCK

October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month.In Topeka, Kansas legislatures repealed the Domestic Violence Law, claiming they could not afford to investigate domestic abuse due to budget cuts.Topeka has had at least 35 reported incidents of domestic battery or assault since early September--with perpetrators set free with no charges against them and, as of October 7th, 18 people jailed were released with no charges.Press Democrat10/12/11

At the same time that violence abusers went free, misdemeanor offenses relating to drugs and shoplifting were prosecuted.According to the states own records there were domestic violence incidents every 22 minutes, an arrest about every 40 minutes.In 2009 there were 1,968 incidents in Shawnee County, 1733 of them in Topeka.Only 32% of those incidents resulted in arrests.The city and county are fighting over which should pay for domestic violence cases.Alternet

LET THEM DIE

In the House of Representatives Republicans pushedHR358, ironically called the “Protect Life Act”, which would permit federally funded hospitals to refuse abortion services even to women who would likely die without the procedure.Currently the 600+ catholic hospitalswho are unwilling to provide abortions are obligated to transfer the patient to a hospital that agrees to perform the requested operation.UnderHR 358hospitals would be legally permitted to do nothing. Women’s groups call it the “Let Women Die” act.Mother Jones

The bill would also allow states to pass their own laws to opt out of the new federal rule requiring

insurers to to offer no-cost birth control.Alternet

VOICES FROM THE WOMB

To further HR 358, “Voices From the Womb” was sponsored by three anti-abortion groups in the Capital Visitors Center.Over the course of two hours, six women had ultrasounds, an anti-abortion member of Congress cried on stage, and ministers prayed for new legislation to end abortions.

The campaign begins a national tour, performing “live ultrasounds “ in schools, churches, state capitals, and public housing.

ABSTINENCE ONLY

Girls’ brains are like spaghetti, boys’ brains are like waffles…boys tuck schoolbooks under their arms at the waist, girls cradle theirs like a baby…boys were made to pursue girls and girls were made to wait to be pursued by boys…we have a whole generation of girls looking for daily love…you just have to get that viable sperm close to her vagina and she turns on the little Hoover vacuum, because girls are very, very, fertile.(from a video screened at a 2009 WAIT training assembly at Loveland High School. )RH Reality Check

ENDING WITH GREAT NEWS

Anne-Therese Ageson and your editor toured the new Family Justice Center and were very impressed.The building is well planned and very attractive, with a playroom for children and a room where victims of domestic violence can talk with a caseworker in private while still keep an eye on their child.The Family Center“ provides rapid assistance, addressing multiple needs.”

BALLOT MEASURE 26

On November 8. voters in Mississippi will be voting on a “personhood” amendment, which, since the state is the most conservative in the U.S., is given a goodchance of passing.This bill would define a “person” as starting when a sperm fertilizes an egg,This would not only ban all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest,but also outlaw most forms of contraceptives including the pill and Plan B, the morning after bill.It also has the possibility of charging a woman with fetus homicide if she has a miscarriage.

Mississippi currently has only one facility that provides abortion, flying in an abortionist from another state.Ironically, Mississippi has the worst infant mortality in the United StatesThe number of babies who die as infants is double the number of abortions annually.The state also has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy.

Currently at least seven states, including Ohio, South Dakota, Florida and Montana are trying to get a Personhood amendment on the 1912 ballot.The measure has been voted down twice in Colorado but supporters vow to again put it on the ballot.

JUST THE FACTS

Nine out of ten abortions take place in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.Doctors classify it as an embryo until the 11th week of pregnancy.At 8 weeks the embryo is a little over 1/2 inch long, at 12 weeks a little over 12 inches, with a full time baby an average of 20 inches long, a full 40 times larger than the size of the average embryo during an abortion.62% of all women having abortions are already mothers.

RH Reality Check

DID YOU KNOW?

“Planned Parenthood is not only after your child’s money, but after their soul” according to Jim Sedlat, president of Stop Planned Parenthood International.Sedlat claimed PP’s primary goal has always been to allow people to engage in inhibited sex and provide birth control that prevents birth, such as abortion. “This organization also targets young people in high school and college and tries to tell communities that young people having sex is normal.”

SEX DISCRIMINATION IN DRINK

Dr. Pepper is promoting a diet soft drink for men only with a “no girls allowed” sex segregated Facebook page that shows men playing sports, racing cars and shooting things, such as red lipstick and pink bows.

SHACKLING OF PREGNANT WOMEN

Although the bill allowing less restrictions on the movement of pregnant women passed both houses unanimously, it was vetoed by Governor Brown, due to last minute objections by the State Sheriffs’ Association. The Sonoma County Sheriffs sent an identical letter to the Governor.

Although California has a law (CA Penal Code 3423. 2006) prohibiting shackling or handcuffing during transportation to a hospital and during labor, childbirth and postpartum recovery, this law has never been fully implemented. The ACLU of Northern California claims that only 1/3 of county jails enforce the pre-existing law.At this year’s National Conference, NOW added “shackling” to its National Advocacy.

BECOME A MEMBER/RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN (NOW)

is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United

States.YOU can help make equality a reality for women and

girls in the United States and around the world.Membership in Sonoma County NOW automatically enrolls you in California NOW and National NOW.

You are invited to a screening of the prize winning documentary “WHEN ABORTION WAS ILLEGAL.” Saturday, May 14, 2 PM at the Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave. off Santa Rosa Ave., followed by a review and discussion of the current national and state threats to a woman’s reproductive health.The documentary features women who had illegal abortions and others medically involved.Open to the public.Bring a friend.Spread the word.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEFORE ROE

According to Planned Parenthood, an estimated 1.2 million women resorted to illegal

”back alley” abortions each year.

Before birth control was legal and readily available the average American female would become pregnant 12-15 times in her lifetime.

The familiar symbol of illegal abortion is the infamous coat hanger.This is no myth.Some women showed up in the hospitals afterwards with the hanger still imbedded.Dr. Waldo Fielding, in recalling memories of his hospital days, stated: “Almost any implement you could imagine was used to start an abortion--darning needles, crochet hooks, cut-glass salt and pepper shakers, soda bottles, sometimes with the top broken off.”

NOW MEETINGS:

Meetings held the third Wednesday, 6-8PM. Call the chapter at 545-5036 for the Santa Rosa location.Come a little early if you want to order something to eat.

May 18: Program meeting:DVD “From Danger to Dignity” (story of the fight for legalization)

June 15: Planning meeting for summer sabbattcal.

MOVED TO STATES

The battle against Planned Parenthood has moved to states that have Republican legislatures and governors.There are now 29 anti-abortion governors.

The Kansas House has passed a bill that would block all funding for Planned Parenthood inKansas.Governor Sam Brownback, who, in his short four months in office has already signed two anti-abortion bills, supports the move.No abortions are conducted at either of the clinics in Wichita or Hayes.

In Minnesota. Senators have introduced a bill that would ban state organizations that offer planning services.Not mentioning Planned Parenthood by name, a clause in the bill prevents funds from going to any clinic “with the same name or a similar name” to one that provides abortion services or abortion referrals.

FREE SPEECH?

In aWeb article, Erin Matson, NOW action vice-president, castigated the Illinois judge that overturned a state rule requiring pharmacists to sell emergency contraception, asserting that it violates a state “right of conscious law and the first amendment.”Watson termed the judge’s ruling as an inexplicable overreach and judicial activism of the worst kind, terming it a “Modern Day Monkey Scopes,” referring to the trial concerning evolution.

ABORTION RECOVERY MONTH

On April 21st (ed note: not much time left) the Governor of Iowa declared the month of April

“Abortion Recovery Month” to “promote abortion recovery programs and awareness of post abortion stress symptoms.”Minnesota and Texas governors have made similar proclamations in

the last year.

The term “recovery” is often used by anti-choice organizations but has never been accepted or recognized by the American Psychiatric Association or the American Psychological Association (APA.)The APA released a report in 2008 which found that there is no evidence that abortion causes any mental distress in women.

The Iowa House recently passed a bill banning all abortion procedures after 20 weeks.The bill is currently awaiting action in the Iowa Senate.Feminist News

NOT THREATENING ENOUGH!

Abortion services have not been available in Wichita, Kansas since Dr. George Tiller’s murder in May, 2009.To fill this need, Dr. Mila Means began training to provide abortion services, thusbecoming the target of anti-abortion protests and harassment.Dr. Means recently received a very threatening letter from anti-abortion activist Angel Dillard.

In her letter to Dr. Means, Dillard, among other things, wrote: “You will be checking under your car every day because maybe today is the day someone places an explosive under it.”Later in the letter, Dillard added: “We will not let this abomination continue without doing everything we can to stop it.”

The Justice Dept. asked that Dillard be prohibited from contacting Means or coming within 250 feet of her home or office.Wichita Judge J. Thomas Marten failed to issue the requested preliminary injunction, saying he did not believe the letter constituted a “true threat.”

HELP!

In the recently concluded budget bill, in order to keep Planned Parenthood’s federal funding, Democrats agreed to bar Washington, DC from using its own revenues to pay for abortions for women on Medicaid.There are 105,874 low income women in the capitol district who receive medical assistance, many in their child bearing years, for whom the $400 for a first trimester abortion is a big deal.

The DC Abortion Fund helps low income women.Since the Fund is all volunteer,95% of contributions goes straight to patient care.You can give online at dcabortionfund.org or by mailing a check to DC Abortion Fund, P.O. Box 3372, Washington, DC, 20033.

ACLU AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

ACLU and Planned Parenthood have appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court in a challenge to

keep the controversial ‘Personhood Amendment’ from the 2012 ballot.The amendment states that the “term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof” and could result in making all abortion illegal in Mississippi.

Anti-abortion Personhood USA termed the connection, which has also partnered in other states, an “unholy alliance,” claiming “Planned Parenthood, with the help of the ACLU is fighting for their right to kill children for profit.”

Sonoma County NOW will be tabling at the ACLU Awards Celebration and Annual Dinner, Friday, May 6th at 5:30 PM at Friedman Center.If interested in attending call 765-5005 or check

www.aclusonoma.org.

Florida Independent

IN SONOMA COUNTY

After Sonoma County Supervisors declared April 10-16 “National Crime Victims Rights Week.” Sexual assault advocates, law enforcement leaders, and government officials shared amoment of silence for crime victims and joined in a 15 minute symbolic walk around the County Administration Building.

Press Democrat

NEVER TOO YOUNG!

Wal-Mart in February launched a new beauty brand, geoGirl, directly targeted to girls 8-12, commonly known as tweens.There are 69 items from the brand, including blushes, pink and purple eye shadow, mascara and anti-aging products, all eco friendly.Girls 8-12 represent a $2 billion untapped market.